Study Finds AEDs Underused at Home

April 1, 2008­–CHICAGO­–The first study to explore the use of automated external defibrillator (AEDs) in the home has found that although the safe and easy-to-use devices are effective for certain types of cardiac arrest, they were underused. The Home Automated External Defibrillator Trial (HAT), a randomized international clinical trial, was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health.

Researchers will present their findings from the international study at the 2008 American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Sessions in Chicago April 1. The results are being published online simultaneously by the New England Journal of Medicine and will appear in the April 24 print edition. An editorial by David Callans, M.D., of the University of Pennsylvania accompanies the article

March 29, 2008­–CHICAGO, Il–If the date of a loved one’s passing is approaching, beware. The anniversary of the death of a close family member, especially a mother or father, is a significant trigger for Sudden Death (SD), especially in men, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology’s 57th Annual Scientific Session. Understanding the triggers of SD—death that is unexpected and occurs rapidly, frequently within one hour of the onset of symptoms and usually due to lethal arrhythmias—may help researchers discover ways to anticipate and prevent premature loss of life.

March 26, 2008–PITTSBURGH­–The SCA Foundation has established an annual award program to honor "ordinary" people with extraordinary heroic spirits who help save the lives of victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The People Saving People awards will recognize members of the public whose lifesaving actions have made the difference between life and death for SCA victims.

The purpose of the program is to increase awareness about the critical need for laypersons to be prepared to intervene in sudden cardiac emergencies.

Awards include:

First place: One (1) automated external defibrillator (AED), which may be donated to the organization of the winner’s choice;

Second place: Free admission to the Emergency Cardiac Care Update, sponsored by the Citizen CPR Foundation, June 13-15, 2008, Las Vegas;

March 25, 2008­–SCA Foundation­–If legislative activity in the New York State Assembly related to the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is any indication, there is growing awareness here that victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) deserve ready access to this lifesaving treatment. At least 15 laws and one administrative code addressing AED training and use have been enacted by the NY state legislature. In addition, 27 bills are pending.

Legislative efforts to save SCA victims began in New York 10 years ago, with an amendment in 1998 to NYS Public Health Law Article 30/3000-B. This legislation authorized Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) programs and encouraged greater acquisition, deployment and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in communities statewide.

Since then, AED programs have been mandated in the following locations:

March 18, 2008–NEW YORK–Joe Shay received official word Tuesday what caused his son’s sudden death Nov. 3 at the U.S. Olympic marathon trails. But four months of testing on Ryan Shay’s heart tissue samples, by some of the nation’s leading cardiology forensic experts and geneticists, left unanswered the biggest question: Why?

According to a statement by the New York City’s medical examiner’s office, Ryan Shay, a distance star from Central Lake, died of "cardiac arrhythmia due to cardiac hypertrophy with patchy fibrosis of undetermined etiology."

March 13, 2008–NEW YORK–A new approach to cardiac resuscitation designed to maintain nearly constant chest compressions triples the rate of survival of "out-of-hospital" cardiac arrest, study findings suggest.

"Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a major public health problem and a leading cause of death," note the study investigators. "Although early defibrillation with automated external defibrillators improves survival, early defibrillation is rare and few patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survive."

February 25, 2008­­–ANCHORAGE–How does the Anchorage Fire Department (AFD) compare to other cities in the delivery of emergency medical services? If you had a cardiac arrest and collapsed in Anchorage what chance would you have to survive?

A 2003 USA Today article found disparities in emergency medical care across the nation and said cities that carefully track their EMS performance save many more lives. Several cities including Houston, Anchorage, Austin, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Raleigh and Tucson have signed up for the Emory University/CDC (Centers for Disease Control) study known as Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival, or CARES.

February 21, 2008–ScienceDaily–Patients who have an in-hospital cardiac arrest at night or on the weekend have a substantially lower rate of survival to discharge than hospitalized patients who experience a cardiac arrest during day/evening times on weekdays, according to a new study.

The detection and treatment of cardiac arrests may be less effective at night because of patient, hospital, staffing and response factors. If in-hospital cardiac arrests are more common or survival is worse on nights and weekends, this information could have important implications for hospital staffing, training, care delivery processes and equipment decisions, according to background information in the article.

February 20, 2008–CARMEL, Maine––U.S. Senator Susan Collins and Maine Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director Jay Bradshaw applauded a donation of 25 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for Maine schools from Defibtech, a company that designs and manufactures the portable, electronic devices that can shock a heart back into normal rhythm and save a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.

February 20, 2008­–SHANGHAI­–Local medical experts are urging the government to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public venues as soon as possible to provide people with emergency treatment if they suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).Beijing is currently the only city in China to have installed defibrillators in public places, including airports and at Olympic sports venues.The local government is considering the issue in the lead-up to World Expo in 2010.

A training center was established at Shanghai Chest Hospital last month to teach the public how to use AEDs properly.